Barking estate 'crawling with vermin' as some council lorries aren't equipped to empty new bins
Residents living on an estate in Barking say for months they have asked the council to help tackle a rubbish problem which is causing the area to stink and is attracting flies and vermin. Those living in Weavers Quarter, which was completed only five years ago and is part of the redevelopment of the Gascoigne estate, are fed up of seeing huge piles of rubbish covering the pavements outside their homes.
They say they have faced irregular rubbish collections and say the estate's new underground bins, which are designed to minimise mess, hold more rubbish and save space, aren't actually that practical. In addition, the council's refuse teams are not all equipped to empty the new bins.
Weavers Quarter resident, Matthias Beirens, said: "There is clearly a massive failure with this new type of bin, it just doesn't seem to work in this area. The council can see that now but they don't really care because they'll install the exact same bins [elsewhere] rather than looking for a reasonable solution. It's like you're talking against a wall."
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He added: "The problem is I can see it from my balcony, when they come they only come for the bins so they actually leave all that trash behind [on the pavement]. They empty the bins and then they're off again." He claims residents found mice on the fourth floor of their building because of 'all of this s***'.
Mr Beirens went on to say the problem was unbearable on hot days during the summer when the temperature was in the mid-30s. A Barking and Dagenham Council spokesperson said the council had experienced some 'operational challenges' with the underground bin system as a special type of vehicle is needed to empty the waste.
The spokesperson added they have since provided residents with Euro bins as a 'short term solution' which are being emptied daily. Last year the council introduced a CCTV 'wall of shame', which aimed to crack down on the problem by sharing footage online of anyone caught dumping rubbish with the aim of identifying the culprits.
At the time the council said it was because some residents on the estate were not using the underground bin system correctly, and they were also looking into the possibility that people who do not live on the estate were dumping their rubbish. Matt Lismore, another resident on the estate and housing campaigner, criticised the council's initiative at the time and accused the authority of showing 'contempt' for residents.
Several months later, he claimed residents had been gas lit and dismissed throughout. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "Residents have been begging the council to get a grip on this issue for a year now. Over that year, they have been blamed, dismissed, misled and gaslighted by the council's leadership as the situation deteriorated.
"We aren't asking for much, we just want to have our rubbish collected reliably, allowing us to live in homes that aren't constantly plagued with the stench of rotting garbage. How long can this continue?" A spokesperson for the council said: "Within parts of the Gascoigne Estate there is an Underground Refuse System (URS), which involves a smaller bin entrance on the surface, with a larger container hidden underground.
"These containers require a specialist vehicle to empty waste. This is a new type of waste management system and we have experienced some operational challenges due to its unique requirements, but we have been working hard to ensure waste collections take place. We are also providing extra Euro bins for residents to dispose of their waste and these are being emptied daily as a short term solution."
They added: "In the coming weeks, the council and managing agents will be providing further information and carrying out engagement sessions with residents to understand barriers to using the bins and to address any concerns. Together with the managing agents, we want to reassure residents that we're doing everything we can to work through issues and we're grateful for everyone's patience at this time."
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